Dear Readington Middle School families,

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year at Readington Middle School! September is right around the corner and we have a great year ahead of us. We are in store for some amazing changes this year! I can't wait to tell you all about them.

We are eager to see all of our learners on the first day of school Thursday, September 5th, 2024!

As a school, our continued goals focus on:

• Ensuring a safe and secure learning environment;

• Upholding the tradition of high quality middle level education;

• Teaching to the whole child, which promotes student growth academically, socially and emotionally;

• Promoting real world challenging problem solving with a rigorous curriculum;

• Creating a collaborative space where students can learn from each other and the community; and

• Have fun while doing it all!

The middle school years are “designed around the developmental needs of young adolescents, which involve identity formation, agency, self-discovery and relationships.” (Association of Middle Level Educators, This We Believe, 3rd ed.) These are also the years in which students need the strongest connections between home and school. We thank you for your continued partnership in educating your child.

Throughout the school year, please be sure to check our website for the most up to date information. Each Wednesday, we update the "Virtual Backpack" with time sensitive information through the Genesis Blast. Monthly, we produce the RMS Express, this digital newsletter about all things going on here at our school.

The first day of school will be here before you know it! Routines will come back and getting back into the swing of things may be hard. To prepare for the first day of school (and every day after that), RMS recommends getting a good night sleep, preparing your lunch and clothes ahead of time, setting an alarm to wake up on time and eating a good, healthy breakfast. We know our middle schoolers are eager to return and we can't wait to see them all and how much they have grown.

Have a wonderful rest of your summer, and of course, GO VIKINGS!

Mr. Timothy Charleston

Principal, Readington Middle School

Schedules for all student's will be available to view in Genesis, our student information system, at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Please be sure to update your Genesis contact information if items have changed, including phone numbers and/or email addresses.

To view your students schedule, all mandatory forms must be completed in Genesis. To access the portal, please click HERE.

If there is an issue with your students schedule, please contact the main office (908-534-2113) and an administrator will get back to you.

I'm excited to share some wonderful changes to our middle school schedule for the upcoming school year. These updates are all about making learning more flexible, enriching, and focused on what our students need and love. This process of changing the schedule started in September of 2023.

More Flexibility:

Our previous schedule operated on a Day 1, Day 2 rotation. We will be moving to a four day rotation starting in the fall (Day 1, 2, 3, and 4). We will also be rotating our periods in the morning and afternoon. By rotating classes, students and teachers will be able to see classes at different times of the day. Middle school students who rotate classes are better prepared for the high school structure, where rotating classes are the norm. This transition helps them develop organizational and time management skills early on.

Increased Academic Math Instruction Time:

We're adding more time for math! This will allow students to dive deeper into math concepts, participate in hands-on activities, and complex problem solving. Both Math and Language Arts will be given the same amount of time in our new schedule.

More Recess Time:

We know how important it is for students to move and have socialization. We have created the middle of the day as an opportunity for just that. Our Opportunity Period incorporates flex time, lunch, and daily recess. This gives students more time for physical activity, socializing, and unwinding. This change supports their overall well-being and is in line with best practices.

Increased Student Encore Choice:

We want students to take charge of their learning. The new schedule includes more elective options and opportunities for students to choose what they want to learn. The creation of new electives, along with our current slate of impressive offerings, allows students to experience courses that expand their knowledge base and create the next generation of leaders.

Values-Driven Education:

Our new schedule is built around the values we cherish most: respect, responsibility, and a love of learning. Every change is designed to help our students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. It is centered around our RMS Mission Statement, District Goals, and Middle School values.

For more detailed information, please see the presentation link below:

Starting Summer of 2024, the main office at Readington Middle School is being renovated. The renovation will include the main office, the administrative offices, and the guidance offices. The Health Office will also have slight modifications made over the summer.

Do not be alarmed if you see construction going on at RMS. If you need anything during the summer, please call or email the school.

Finally, updates about construction will happen periodically over the course of the summer and into the school year. The main student drop off and main vestibule will be functional during construction. The administrative offices and guidance offices will be temporarily relocated to start up the 24-25 school year before the space is ready to move into.

If you have any questions, please reach out! We are excited to have this space finished and updated so that staff and students can benefit from new, updated guidance and conference room spaces.

Even with construction, students will enter the building at 7:25am and must report to their homerooms by 7:35am. The school day concludes at 2:25pm. We highly encourage and recommend bus ridership. The times for bus pick up and drop off will be in Genesis by 8/21/2024. Please be sure you are at your assigned bus stop in time. If you have any questions about bus stops or transportation, please call the Transportation Office: 908-534-3835

If you are planning to drop off or pick up via the car line, please adhere to the following map:

During our school day, cell phones and other non-school issued devices (included Smart Watches) are not to be used by students. Students excel academically and socially when not tied to cell phones and the distraction of texts and social media. Students should be focused on learning and not on phones. Cell phones should be kept in students' lockers.

All students are issued district Chromebooks.

If you need to reach your student, please do not text them but rather call the main office and you will be put in touch with your child. Thank you for your partnership!

Lockers will be automatically signed to you student at RMS. You will find your students Locker information in Genesis. All students are expected to bring in a combination lock and share the information their combination with the main office.

Every single staff is committed at RMS to ensuring that this year is educational, enriching, challenging, and most of all, fun for students. This includes our main office staff, custodians, counselors, instructional assistants and teachers. I am thrilled to have with us some new staff members who will play a part in your students educational journey here at RMS. Please give them a warm Viking welcome when you see them!

New Staff:

- Lakendra McFadden, School Counselor

- Paul Smith, School Counselor

- Zoe Zimmerman, Language Arts

- Walter Burkat, French

- Abagail Whalen, Special Education

- Leandro Jiménez, Head Custodian

- Maria Post, Secretary to the Assistant Principal

- Jennifer Mooney, Assistant Principal

Short/Long Term Leaves:

- Michele Adamitis, Special Education

- Kirsten Baron, Physical Education & Health

- Bruce Corwin, Language Arts

- Phoebe Stedman, Special Education

- Shikha Shah, Science

Families, please be sure to log into the Genesis Parent Portal to make sure your contact information is updated. This includes phone numbers and email addresses. If you need assistance updating this information, please contact the main office at 908-534-2113.

The district serves both breakfast and lunch at all schools every day.

RMS has before and after school homework rooms available for your student to participate in. Before school starts at 7:00am on the first day of school, 9/5/2024. After school help runs from 2:30-4:00 pm, Monday through Thursday, and will commence on 9/16/2024.

Click here to view the most up to date RMS Viking Athletics Calendar. For more information, please connect directly with your student(s) coaches or Athletic Coordinator, Chris Kober.

Click here to view the currently approved calendar for the 2024-2025 school year.

Website: https://www.readington.k12.nj.us/Domain/58
Location: 48 Readington Road, Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA
Phone: 908-534-2113
Twitter: @RMS_VIKINGS